Ricotta Salata Frescolina cheese recalled

Company: 14 Listeria-related illnesses reported

Forever Cheese has issued a recall of one production lot of its Ricotta Salata Frescolina brand products due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

In a news release, the company said there have been 14 reported illnesses in 11 states which may be related to the recalled cheese products.

The cheese in question is Forever Cheese lot No. T9425 from one production date coded 441202 on the original wheel.

The cheese was sold to distributors for retailers and restaurants in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington and Washington, D.C., between June 20 and Aug. 9, 2012.

According to the company, the potential for contamination was noted after illness was reported in connection with eating the cheese. Each and every distributor and retailer is being contacted in an effort to recall any and all remaining products in the marketplace. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. Consumers who have purchased any of the recalled cheese products is urged to contact their distributor or retailer for a full refund. For more information call Forever Cheese at 888-930-8693.

Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.